I'm trying to open an HTML file in a browser using @Asynchshell and I keep getting an error message that Windows can't find it.  I want to pass both the (full) browser path and the full path of the HTML file, not rely on whatever the default browser and associated application are.  (I expect to use the same approach for non-browser programs.)

If I don't include the data file, either MSIE or FireFox opens, depending on which I specify.  But no combination of app plus data path works.  Individual users use different applications for the same data file type (e.g., sometimes open .doc in MS Word, sometimes in WordPerfect, etc.) Standardizing is not an option  Also, I really don't want to start putting batch files all over the place.

I'm using XP Home. The error message I get is: Windows cannot find '<the Cmdline string surrounded by single quotes>'.  Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.  To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.

Although I don't see any examples of full program+data paths in the programming manual, it gives the impression that it should be possible to pass both the full application path and full data file path to @Asynchshell and open the file.  Or does passing both require using @Shell plus Start?


stat sHTMLBrowser as String
stat sDefaultHelpPath as String      // Full path


Function ViewHTMLHelp(vHelpPath as String, vHelpDocName as String) as Int
     var n as Int
     var CmdLine as String
     
     If vHelpPath = "" then vHelpPath = sDefaultHelpPath
     If @Right(vHelpPath, 1) <> "\" then vHelpPath = vHelpPath + "\"

/* All 4 of the following fail. The difference is the various double quotes.
     CmdLine = @chr(34) + sHTMLBrowser + @chr(34) + " " + @chr(34) + vHelpPath + vHelpDocName + @chr(34)
=      "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" "G:\Sesame\Help\Index.html"
     (I use this syntax in various non-Sesame Windows shortcuts with no problem. If the resulting Cmdline line is copied
        from the Write() window and pasted into a command prompt, it works fine.)

     CmdLine = sHTMLBrowser + " " + @chr(34) + vHelpPath + vHelpDocName + @chr(34)
=      C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe "G:\Sesame\Help\Index.html"

     CmdLine = sHTMLBrowser + " " + vHelpPath + vHelpDocName
=      C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe G:\Sesame\Help\Index.html

     CmdLine = @chr(34) + sHTMLBrowser + " " + vHelpPath + vHelpDocName + @chr(34)
=      "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe G:\Sesame\Help\Index.html"

*/

     CmdLine = sHTMLBrowser + " " + vHelpPath + vHelpDocName

     OpenSlate()
     Writeln(sHTMLBrowser)
     Writeln(vHelpPath)
     Writeln(vHelpDocName)
     Writeln(CmdLine)

//      n = @Asynchshell(sHTMLBrowser)  // This works with either browser but doesn't open the page, of course.
     n = @Asynchshell(CmdLine)  // This fails with either browser
     Return(n)
End Function


sHTMLBrowser = "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe"
//      sHTMLBrowser = "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
sDefaultHelpPath = "G:\Sesame\Help\"

First, you must drop the "Start" portion. This is causing your default browser to open the target file. Then, use one of the two examples below.

var n as Int
var CmdLine as String

CmdLine = @Chr(34) + "C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" + @Chr(34) + " " + @Chr(34)+ "S:\Sesame2\HelpFiles\index.html" + @Chr(34)

// Option 1
n = @Shell(@Chr(34) + CmdLine + @Chr(34)) // Works, but leaves a cmd window open.

// Option 2
CreateAProcess(CmdLine) // Works best. Does NOT leave a cmd window open. 

A summary of this thread -- @ASynchShell() can't take both an executable name and a data file.  Use CreateAProcess().